Network proxy for energy efficient video streaming on mobile devices

ABSTRACT

Examples of systems and methods for network proxy server for energy efficient video streaming on mobile devices are generally described herein. A proxy server to deliver video content may include a communication module to intercept a request for video content from a mobile device, the request for video content intended for a content server and forward a modified request for the video content to the content server. The communication module may receive the video content from the content server and transfer a portion of the video content to the mobile device using a multipath transport protocol.

PRIORITY APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/804,696, filed Nov. 6, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/576,865, filed Dec. 19, 2014, now issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,813,465, all of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND

Energy consumption for mobile video streaming is influenced by networktraffic patterns used to download the video data, such as the amount ofavailable bandwidth that is being used at any given time. An inefficientpattern may needlessly keep wireless network protocol interfaces in anactive state, which may cause a mobile device to consume an amount ofenergy disproportionate to the volume of transferred data. Using asingle path from a content server to the mobile device may delaydelivery of the video and cause additional energy to be consumed by themobile device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views. Like numerals havingdifferent letter suffixes may represent different instances of similarcomponents. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, butnot by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the presentdocument.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating 3rd Generation (3G) power states fordata transfer, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating data flow through a network proxyserver using a multipath transport protocol (e.g., MPTCP), according toan embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transferring videocontent through a network proxy server using a multipath protocol(MPTCP), according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a machine upon which any one or more of thetechniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein may perform, accordingto an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reducing energy used by a mobile device when receiving video data mayinclude using a proxy server or a multipath protocol. The trafficpattern between a content server and a mobile device may be altered toinclude a proxy server to intercept data sent and received by the mobiledevice. The proxy server may retrieve video content from a contentserver at the request of the mobile device and send the video content tothe mobile device in a way that consumes less energy at the mobiledevice than if the mobile device received the video content directlyfrom the content server.

In an example, time spent by a mobile device in an initial bufferingstate for video content may be reduced using a multipath transportprotocol (e.g., multipath transmission control protocol, MPTCP). Thereduced time may cause less energy to be consumed by the mobile deviceor improve user experience. The multipath transport protocol may be usedto aggregate network bandwidth available on a plurality of connectioninterfaces.

In an example, the multipath transport protocol may be used with a 3rdGeneration (3G), 4th Generation (4G), or 5th Generation (5G) networkinterface connection. The network interface may consume the same amountof energy at a mobile device when transferring data regardless ofthroughput. In another example, the multipath transport protocol may usea wireless protocol network interface connection, such as a WiFiinterface. The WiFi interface may consume energy proportionally to thenetwork throughput. A video streaming application or delivery method ona mobile device, such as a mobile application or a web browser, maylimit the data transfer rate to the mobile device to a fraction of theavailable bandwidth in order to keep the total data downloaded low or toan appropriate amount, since users often cancel or navigate away from avideo before the video is complete. However, keeping the total datadownloaded to an appropriate level causes higher energy to be consumedby the mobile device.

A technique for keeping the total data downloaded low while alsolowering energy consumption on a mobile device may include using burstsof data sent from a proxy server to the mobile device where throughputto the mobile device is maximized. Idle periods may also be extended tokeep energy usage low. By extending an idle period, the mobile devicemay consume less energy. Another technique for decreasing energy usagemay include minimizing the energy used by the mobile device to power adisplay screen while waiting for a video to start. By aggregatingavailable bandwidth on a multipath transport protocol, video may beretrieved faster by the mobile device and the time the mobile device ispowering the display without showing the video may be decreased,decreasing the total time the screen is on.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram 100 illustrating 3rd Generation (3G) power statesfor data transfer, according to an embodiment. In an example, a mobiledevice operating on a 3G network uses different power states for datatransfer over time. For example, the mobile device may be in a dedicatedchannel (DCH) with data transfer state 102, transition to a DCH withoutdata transfer state 104, and proceed to a forward access channel (FACH)state 106 before a network interface of the mobile device enters an idlestate. The transitions between states may include transitioning afterexpiration of a timer. The transition between the DCH with data transferstate 102 and the DCH without data transfer state 104 may occur when noadditional data is transferred to or from the mobile device. Thetransition may not be marked or defined but may be a specified amount oftime before the DCH without data transfer state 104 transitions to theFACH state 106. In an example, a first timer, such as a power transitiontinier T1, may run when no data is sent to or received by the mobiledevice when the mobile device is in the DCH with data transfer state102. When the first timer starts, the mobile device may transition tothe DCH without data transfer state 104. When the first timer expires,the mobile device may transition to the FACH state 106. When in the FACHstate 106, a second timer, such as a power transition timer T2, maystart. When the second timer expires, the network interface of themobile device may transition from the FACH state 106 to an idle state.In an example, a proxy server may keep the network interface of themobile device from entering the idle state by keeping the first timer T1from starting or expiring, keeping the mobile device in one of the DCHstates. For example, the proxy server may send data to the mobile devicebefore the first timer T1 starts, keeping the mobile device in the DCHwith data transfer state 102. In another example, the proxy server maysend data to the mobile device before the first timer T2 expires butafter it starts, transitioning the mobile device from the DCH withoutdata transfer state 104 to the DCH with data transfer state 102.

The time between the FACH state 106 and the next data transfer state 108may be idle time for the network interface of the mobile device, such aswhere there is no data transfer or minimal or no power is used for datatransfer. In an example, the DCH without data transfer state 104 and theFACH state 106 are in a tail time period because active data transfermay be not occurring during these states. By using a proxy server, theidle time between the FACH state 106 and the next data transfer state108 may be increased, decreasing the amount of energy used by the mobiledevice.

When the data transfer in the DCH with data transfer state 102completes, the network interface of the mobile device does notimmediately go into an idle state, but instead continues to consume tailenergy while in the DCH without data transfer state 104, at a highpower, and the FACH state 106, at a medium power. Since the time themobile device is in a DCH without data transfer state 104 or FACH state106 is independent of how long the mobile device is in the DCH with datatransfer state 102, maximizing the time the mobile device is in the DCHwith data transfer state 102 will decrease the energy used by the mobiledevice. For example, if the network interface of the mobile device wasin the DCH with data transfer state 102 for only a short period of timerelative to the idle time and had to enter the second data transferstate 108 shortly thereafter, the mobile device would consume moreenergy to download an amount of data than if the mobile devicedownloaded the same amount of data in a single DCH with data transferstate 102.

A technique to decrease energy usage in a mobile device may includeminimizing transitions to tail states and maximizing throughput at themobile device during data transfer. This technique may include a customnetwork transfer pattern and a proxy server. The proxy server mayintercept data sent by the mobile device intended for a content server.The proxy server may send content, such as video, to the mobile deviceusing a high throughput connection. To intercept data, the proxy servermay intercept data by direct data access as a middle-man, through use ofa known proxy, through another intermediary point that is known to bereceiving the data, or with a content server. The proxy server may alertthe mobile device that it is intercepting data, the mobile device mayinstruct the proxy server to intercept the data, a content server mayinstruct the proxy server to intercept the data, or the proxy server maybe preselected to intercept the data from the mobile device. In anotherexample, the proxy server may intercept the data without obtainingconsent or alerting the mobile device. The mobile device or a contentserver may not be aware that the proxy server is intercepting data fromthe mobile device (e.g., the proxy server may intercept data silentlywithout changing how the mobile device operates).

The proxy server may intercept a request from the mobile device forvideo content and fetch the video content from the content server. Ifthe video data is being stored in a content delivery network (CDN), thedata may be retrieved from multiple servers by the proxy server. Afterthe data is retrieved by the proxy server, it may be delivered to themobile device in an energy efficient pattern. For each connection to themobile device, such a pattern may include sending data associated withthe connection in a single burst that maximizes the bandwidth. The videodata may be retrieved using a single transport connection or multipletransport connections. The energy optimization technique using the proxyserver may be applied on each connection separately.

The energy optimization technique may be used without modifying theclient, the server, or the client-server protocol. The proxy server maybe transparent for the video streaming ecosystem (e.g., the mobiledevice or the content server may not be able to detect any substantialdifference in operation with the proxy server). The proxy server maywork with different mobile video streaming applications and multipleCDNs with only minimal configuration in order to be able to identifyspecific request formats.

The proxy server may modify the request for the video content from themobile device to include a modified user agent and allow a fast downloadto maximize proxy server inbound bandwidth. The proxy server may fetchthe video content from the content server quicker than a mobile clientwould. The proxy server may deliver a portion of the video content thatmay allow for playback to start on the mobile device without asignificant delay or with an increase in speed.

When rendering a video, a video streaming client may not start playbackuntil a certain amount of data has been buffered. This may bedetrimental for battery life and for user experience since the waitingtime may be significant if the network connection is poor. For example,the screen on a mobile device may stay on while buffering, displaying aspecific message for the user. On a mobile device, the screen may be oneof the biggest energy consumers.

In an example, bandwidth aggregation may be based on a multipathtransport protocol. For example, the multipath transport protocol mayinclude a 3G, 4G, 5G, or the like, connection path and a WiFi connectionpath for a distinct portion of video content or data. In an example, the3G, 4G, or 5G network connection may help the WiFi connection retrievethe data faster. For a WiFi connection with a limited bandwidth, theamount of energy spent on initiating a 3G, 4G, or 5G connection may beless than the energy consumed by the screen while waiting for the videoto start. Therefore using both connections may result in an improvedoverall energy consumption and user experience. In an example, the 3G,4G, or 5G may be enabled only during the initial buffering period (e.g.,from when the video transfer begins to the start of playback on themobile device). After playback starts, the display screen on the mobiledevice will be on to display the video, so the 3G, 4G, or 5G connectionmay be disabled to decrease energy consumption.

Although many examples include video content, downloading anyapplication or data at a mobile device may be improved by using thetechniques set out above and below. For example, energy consumption of amobile device when downloading large applications, pages in a largedocument, audio files, or the like may be improved using a proxy serveror multipath transport protocol. If the network proxy server is used asa forward proxy server, the mobile device may make networkconfigurations to connect to the proxy server. If the network proxyserver is used as a reverse proxy server, (e.g., in the cloud), noadditional client configurations may be needed.

The network pattern proxy server may be set up anywhere between theclient and the content server or servers. Setting up the proxy servercloser to the mobile device may decrease the energy consumption of themobile device, such as if the network connection is poor. For example,the network connection may impact the pattern sent by the proxy server.A proxy server close to the mobile device (e.g., on the network gatewayof an office building) may allow the proxy server to handle a relativelylow number of requests, increasing speed and bandwidth for the mobiledevice. In another example, the proxy server may be close to the contentserver or servers, and a large number of requests may be handled throughload balancing over multiple proxy server instances. For example, aproxy server from a plurality of proxy servers may be used to intercepta request for video content from a mobile device. The plurality of proxyservers may be used to download the video content from a content serveror content servers. The plurality of proxy servers may send a portion ofthe video content to the mobile device. The plurality of proxy serversmay include relay proxy servers to send the video content to proxiescloser to the mobile device or dedicated proxy servers for the mobiledevice. The plurality of proxy servers may include different proxyservers for different connections in the multipath transport protocol.

In another example, mobile device energy usage may be decreased bycaching a fetched video on the proxy server to avoid needing to downloadthe video more than once from a content server. The cached video may beused for a mobile device making more than one request for the cachedvideo, such as when a user requests to re-watch a video and the video isnot stored locally at the mobile device. The cached video may also beused for more than one mobile device, such as if multiple mobile devicesrequest the same video. The cached video may be stored on a differentproxy server. For example, a technique may include using a networkpattern proxy server to intercept a request for video content from amobile device and a cache proxy server to store the video content afterit is downloaded and sent to the mobile device. The network patternproxy server may first check the cache proxy server for the requestedvideo content before sending the request to the content server.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram 200 illustrating data flow through anetwork proxy server using a multipath transport protocol (e.g., MPTCP),according to an embodiment. The block diagram 200 includes variouscontent delivery network servers 202, 204, 206, a proxy server 208, anda mobile device 224. In an example, the mobile device 224 may send arequest for content to the proxy server 208 using a first connection 212or a second connection 214. The request may be intended for a contentdelivery server n 206 and may be intercepted by a communication module210 of the proxy server 208. The communication module 210 may forward amodified request for the content to one or more of the content servers202, 204, 206. The communication module 210 may receive the content fromone or more of the content servers 202, 204, 206. The communicationmodule 210 may transfer a portion of the content to the mobile device224 using the first connection 212 and the second connection 214. Thetransfer may include a multipath transport protocol 220 to receivecommunication via both the first connection 212 and the secondconnection 214. The mobile device 224 may include a mobile application(app) 222 to send or receive content via the multipath transportprotocol connections to and from the proxy server 208.

In an example, to transfer the portion of the content, the communicationmodule 210 may maintain a high throughput data connection with themobile device until the portion of the content is fully transferred tothe mobile device. For example, the communication module 210 may keep anetwork interface of the mobile device from entering an idle state untilafter the portion of the content is entirely transferred. Thecommunication module 210 may turn off one of the first connection 212 orthe second connection 214 when the content playback starts on the mobiledevice. In another example, to transfer the portion of the content tothe mobile device, the communication module 210 may delay transferringany of the portion of the content until the entire portion of thecontent is received from the content server n 206.

The communication module 210 may receive a request for a second portionof the content from the mobile device 224 and may transfer the secondportion of the content to the mobile device 224 using the multipathtransport protocol 220. In an example, to intercept the request forcontent, the communication module 210 of the proxy server 208 mayreceive information from the app 222 on the mobile device 224. Theinformation may indicate the request for content. In another example,the communication module 210 may intercept all data sent by the mobiledevice 224 or all data sent over the multipath transport protocol 220.

In an example, the first connection 212 may include a wireless protocolconnection according to an IEEE 802.11 family of standards. In anotherexample, the second connection 214 may include a 3rd Generation (3G)radio access technology (RAT) network connection that is a UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or Evolved High Speed PacketAccess (HSPA+) standard based network.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 300 for transferringvideo content through a network proxy server using a multipath transportprotocol (e.g., a dual path protocol, MPTCP, etc.), according to anembodiment. The method 300 may include an operation 302 to intercept arequest for video content from a mobile device, the request for videocontent intended for a content server. In an example, intercepting therequest may include receiving information from a mobile application onthe mobile device indicating a request for video content. The videocontent may be delivered to the mobile device using the mobileapplication. The mobile application may include a popular applicationconfigured to use the proxy server and multipath transport protocol, ormay be a special mobile application used for sending video content viathe proxy server and using multipath transport protocol. In anotherexample, intercepting the request may include intercepting, at the proxyserver, all data sent by the mobile device. In an example, the proxyserver may receive all data from the mobile device and allow non-videocontent to continue to its destination.

The method 300 may include an operation 304 to forward a modifiedrequest for the video content to the content server. The modifiedrequest may include the original request from the mobile device. Inanother example, the modified request may omit details about the mobiledevice.

In an example, the method 300 includes an operation 306 to receive thevideo content from the content server. For example, a proxy server mayreceive video content from a single content server or from multiplecontent servers/a plurality of content servers, such as from a contentdelivery network (CDN). Portions of the video content may be received infull from a single server or from multiple servers.

The method 300 may include an operation 308 to transfer a portion of thevideo content to the mobile device using a multipath transport protocol.Transferring the portion of the video content may include maintaining ahigh throughput data connection between the proxy server and the mobiledevice until the portion of the video content is transferred to themobile device. In an example, transferring the portion of the videocontent or maintaining the high throughput data connection may includenot allowing the network interface of the mobile device to enter an idlestate until after the portion of the video content is entirelytransferred. In another example, transferring the portion of the videocontent may include delaying transferring any portion of the videocontent until the entire portion of the video content (or the entiretyof the video content, in another example) is received at the proxyserver from the content server. In yet another example, the method 300may include receiving a request from the mobile device for a secondportion of the video content and transferring the second portion of thevideo content from the proxy server to the mobile device using themultipath transport protocol. A high throughput data connection mayinclude a data connection in a DCH state, or a data connection with athroughput of greater than the throughput achieved on a FACH stateconnection. The high throughput data connection may be measured in bitsper second, data packets per second, bits per time slot, or data packetsper time slot. For example, maintaining a high throughput dataconnection between the proxy server and the mobile device until theportion of the video content is transferred may include the networkinterface of the mobile device remaining in a DCH state and nottransitioning to a FACH state or idle state before the transfer iscomplete.

The multipath transport protocol may include a plurality of paths fromthe proxy server to the mobile device. One path may include a wirelessprotocol connection, such as according to an IEEE 802.11 family ofstandards (e.g., WiFi). Another path may include a 3rd Generation (3G)radio access technology (RAT) network connection that is a UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or Evolved High Speed PacketAccess (HSPA+) standard based network. Another path may include a 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) orLTE-advanced network connection, such as a 4G or 4G LTE connection. Themultipath transport protocol may include any two or more connections,including repeating types. For example, the method 300 may includeconnecting using the wireless protocol connection and the 3G RAT networkconnection. The method 300 may then include turning off the 3G RATnetwork connection when the video playback starts on the mobile device.In another example, the method 300 may include turning off one or moreconnections in the multipath transport protocol (or the multipathtransport protocol entirely) when transferring of the portion of thevideo content is complete.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a machine 400 upon which any one or moreof the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein may perform,according to an embodiment. In alternative embodiments, the machine 400may operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked)to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine 400 mayoperate in the capacity of a server machine, a client machine, or bothin server-client network environments. In an example, the machine 400may act as a peer machine in peer-to-peer (P2P) (or other distributed)network environment. The machine 400 may be a personal computer (PC), atablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), amobile telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further,while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein, such as cloudcomputing, software as a service (SaaS), other computer clusterconfigurations.

Examples, as described herein, may include, or may operate on, logic ora number of components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules are tangibleentities (e.g., hardware) capable of performing specified operationswhen operating. A module includes hardware. In an example, the hardwaremay be specifically configured to carry out a specific operation (e.g.,hardwired). In an example, the hardware may include configurableexecution units (e.g., transistors, circuits, etc.) and a computerreadable medium containing instructions, where the instructionsconfigure the execution units to carry out a specific operation when inoperation. The configuring may occur under the direction of theexecutions units or a loading mechanism. Accordingly, the executionunits are communicatively coupled to the computer readable medium whenthe device is operating. In this example, the execution units may be amember of more than one module. For example, under operation, theexecution units may be configured by a first set of instructions toimplement a first module at one point in time and reconfigured by asecond set of instructions to implement a second module.

Machine (e.g., computer system) 400 may include a hardware processor 402(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit(GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a mainmemory 404 and a static memory 406, some or all of which may communicatewith each other via an interlink (e.g., bus) 408. The machine 400 mayfurther include a display unit 410, an alphanumeric input device 412(e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI) navigation device 414(e.g., a mouse). In an example, the display unit 410, alphanumeric inputdevice 412 and UI navigation device 414 may be a touch screen display.The machine 400 may additionally include a storage device (e.g., driveunit) 416, a signal generation device 418 (e.g., a speaker), a networkinterface device 420, and one or more sensors 421, such as a globalpositioning system (GPS) sensor, compass, accelerometer, or othersensor. The machine 400 may include an output controller 428, such as aserial (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), parallel, or other wired orwireless (e.g., infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC), etc.)connection to communicate or control one or more peripheral devices(e.g., a printer, card reader, etc.).

The storage device 416 may include a machine readable medium 422 that isnon-transitory on which is stored one or more sets of data structures orinstructions 424 software) embodying or utilized by any one or more ofthe techniques or functions described herein. The instructions 424 mayalso reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory404, within static memory 406, or within the hardware processor 402during execution thereof by the machine 400. In an example, one or anycombination of the hardware processor 402, the main memory 404, thestatic memory 406, or the storage device 416 may constitute machinereadable media.

While the machine readable medium 422 is illustrated as a single medium,the term “machine readable medium” may include a single medium ormultiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/orassociated caches and servers) configured to store the one or moreinstructions 424.

The term “machine readable medium” may include any medium that iscapable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution bythe machine 400 and that cause the machine 400 to perform any one ormore of the techniques of the present disclosure, or that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying data structures used by or associated withsuch instructions. Non-limiting machine readable medium examples mayinclude solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media. In anexample, a massed machine readable medium comprises a machine readablemedium with a plurality of particles having invariant (e.g., rest) mass.Accordingly, massed machine-readable media are not transitorypropagating signals. Specific examples of massed machine readable mediamay include: non-volatile memory, such as semiconductor memory devices(e.g., Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), ElectricallyErasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)) and flash memorydevices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removabledisks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. Theinstructions 424 may further be transmitted or received over acommunications network 426 using a transmission medium via the networkinterface device 420 utilizing any one of a number of transfer protocols(e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP), transmission controlprotocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hypertext transferprotocol (HTTP), etc.). Example communication networks may include alocal area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a packet datanetwork (e.g., the Internet), mobile telephone networks (e.g., cellularnetworks), Plain Old Telephone (POTS) networks, and wireless datanetworks (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)802.11 family of standards known as Wi-Fi®, IEEE 802.16 family ofstandards known as WiMax®), IEEE 802.15.4 family of standards,peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, among others. In an example, the networkinterface device 420 may include one or more physical jacks (e.g.,Ethernet, coaxial, or phone jacks) or one or more antennas to connect tothe communications network 426. In an example, the network interfacedevice 420 may include a plurality of antennas to wirelessly communicateusing at least one of single-input multiple-output (SIMO),multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), or multiple-input single-output(MISO) techniques. The term “transmission medium” shall be taken toinclude any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding orcarrying instructions for execution by the machine 400, and includesdigital or analog communications signals or other intangible medium tofacilitate communication of such software.

VARIOUS NOTES & EXAMPLES

Each of these non-limiting examples can stand on its own, or can becombined in various permutations or combinations with one or more of theother examples.

Example 1 includes the subject matter embodied by a proxy server todeliver video content comprising: a communication module to: intercept arequest for video content from a mobile device, the request for videocontent intended for a content server, forward a modified request forthe video content to the content server, receive the video content fromthe content server, and transfer a portion of the video content to themobile device using a multipath transport protocol.

In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 may optionally includewherein to transfer the portion of the video content, the communicationmodule is to maintain a high throughput data connection with the mobiledevice until the portion of the video content is transferred to themobile device.

In Example 3, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-2 may optionally include wherein the communication module is toreceive a request for a second portion of the video content from themobile device and transfer the second portion of the video content tothe mobile device using the multipath transport protocol.

In Example 4, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-3 may optionally include wherein the content server is a plurality ofcontent servers.

In Example 5, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-4 may optionally include wherein to transfer the portion of the videocontent to the mobile device, the communication module is to keep anetwork interface of the mobile device from entering an idle state untilafter the portion of the video content is transferred.

In Example 6, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-5 may optionally include wherein to keep the network interface of themobile device from entering the idle state, the communication module isto prevent a power transition timer running on the mobile device fromexpiring.

In Example 7, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-6 may optionally include wherein to transfer the portion of the videocontent to the mobile device, the communication module is to delaytransferring any of the portion of the video content until the portionof the video content is received from the content server.

In Example 8, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-7 may optionally include wherein to intercept the request for videocontent, the communication module is to receive information from amobile application on the mobile device indicating the request for videocontent.

In Example 9, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-8 may optionally include wherein the communication module is tointercept all data sent by the mobile device.

In Example 10, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-9 may optionally include wherein one path of the multipath transportprotocol includes a wireless protocol connection according to an IEEE802.11 family of standards.

In Example 11, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-10 may optionally include wherein one path of the multipath transportprotocol includes a 3rd Generation (3G) radio access technology (RAT)network connection that is a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS) or Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) standard basednetwork.

In Example 12, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-11 may optionally include wherein the communication module is to turnoff the 3G RAT network connection when the video playback starts on themobile device.

In Example 13, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-12 may optionally include wherein one path of the multipath transportprotocol includes a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) long termevolution (LTE) or LTE-advanced network connection.

In Example 14, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples1-13 may optionally include wherein the communication module is to turnoff the 3GPP LTE or LTE-advanced network connection when the videoplayback starts on the mobile device.

Example 15 includes the subject matter embodied by a method for using aproxy server to deliver video content comprising: intercepting a requestfor video content from a mobile device, the request for video contentintended for a content server, forwarding a modified request for thevideo content to the content server, receiving the video content fromthe content server, and transferring a portion of the video content tothe mobile device using a multipath transport protocol.

In Example 16, the subject matter of Example 15 may optionally includewherein transferring the portion of the video content includesmaintaining a high throughput data connection with the mobile deviceuntil the portion of the video content is transferred to the mobiledevice.

In Example 17, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-16 may optionally include further comprising receiving a request fora second portion of the video content from the mobile device andtransferring the second portion of the video content to the mobiledevice using the multipath transport protocol.

In Example 18, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-17 may optionally include wherein the content server is a pluralityof content servers.

In Example 19, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-18 may optionally include wherein transferring the portion of thevideo content to the mobile device includes keeping a network interfaceof the mobile device from entering an idle state until after the portionof the video content is transferred.

In Example 20, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-19 may optionally include wherein keeping the network interface ofthe mobile device from entering an idle state includes preventing apower transition timer running on the mobile device from expiring.

In Example 21, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-20 may optionally include wherein transferring the portion of thevideo content to the mobile device includes delaying transferring any ofthe portion of the video content until the portion of the video contentis received from the content server.

In Example 22, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-21 may optionally include wherein intercepting the request for videocontent includes receiving information from a mobile application on themobile device indicating the request for video content.

In Example 23, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-22 may optionally include further comprising intercepting all datasent by the mobile device.

In Example 24, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-23 may optionally include wherein one path of the multipath transportprotocol includes a wireless protocol connection according to an IEEE802.11 family of standards.

In Example 25, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-24 may optionally include wherein one path of the multipath transportprotocol includes a 3rd Generation (3G) radio access technology (RAT)network connection that is a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS) or Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) standard basednetwork.

In Example 26, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-25 may optionally include further comprising turning off the 3G RATnetwork connection when the video playback starts on the mobile device.

In Example 27, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-26 may optionally include wherein one path of the multipath transportprotocol includes a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) long termevolution (LTE) or LTE-advanced network connection.

In Example 28, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples15-27 may optionally include further comprising turning off the 3GPP LTEor LTE-advanced network connection when the video playback starts on themobile device.

Example 29 includes at least one machine-readable medium includinginstructions for receiving information, which when executed by amachine, cause the machine to perform any of the methods of Examples15-28.

Example 30 includes an apparatus comprising means for performing any ofthe methods of Examples 15-28.

Example 31 includes the subject matter embodied by an apparatus forusing a proxy server to deliver video content comprising: means forintercepting a request for video content from a mobile device, the videocontent intended for a content server, means for forwarding a modifiedrequest for the video content to the content server, means for receivingthe video content from the content server, and means for transferring aportion of the video content to the mobile device using a multipathtransport protocol.

In Example 32, the subject matter of Example 31 may optionally includewherein the means for transferring the portion of the video contentinclude means for maintaining a high throughput data connection with themobile device until the portion of the video content is transferred tothe mobile device.

In Example 33, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples31-32 may optionally include further comprising means for receiving arequest for a second portion of the video content from the mobile deviceand means for transferring the second portion of the video content tothe mobile device using the multipath transport protocol.

In Example 34, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples31-33 may optionally include wherein the content server is a pluralityof content servers.

In Example 35, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples31-34 may optionally include wherein the means for transferring theportion of the video content to the mobile device include means forkeeping a network interface of the mobile device from entering an idlestate until after the portion of the video content is transferred.

In Example 36, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples31-35 may optionally include wherein the means for keeping the networkinterface of the mobile device from entering an idle state include meansfor preventing a power transition timer running on the mobile devicefrom expiring.

In Example 37, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples31-36 may optionally include wherein the means for transferring theportion of the video content to the mobile device include means fordelaying transferring any of the portion of the video content until theportion of the video content is received from the content server.

In Example 38, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples31-37 may optionally include wherein the means for intercepting therequest for video content include means for receiving information from amobile application on the mobile device indicating the request for videocontent.

In Example 39, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples31-38 may optionally include further comprising means for interceptingall data sent by the mobile device.

In Example 40, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples31-39 may optionally include wherein one path of the multipath transportprotocol includes a wireless protocol connection according to an IEEE802.11 family of standards.

In Example 41, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples31-40 may optionally include wherein one path of the multipath transportprotocol includes a 3rd Generation (3G) radio access technology (RAT)network connection that is a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS) or Evolved High Speed. Packet Access (HSPA+) standard basednetwork.

In Example 42, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples31-41 may optionally include further comprising means for turning offthe 3G RAT network connection when the video playback starts on themobile device.

In Example 43, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples31-42 may optionally include wherein one path of the multipath transportprotocol includes a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) long termevolution (LTE) or LTE-advanced network connection.

In Example 44, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples31-43 may optionally include further comprising means for turning offthe 3GPP LTE or LTE-advanced network connection when the video playbackstarts on the mobile device.

The above detailed description includes references to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawingsshow, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which theinvention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred toherein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition tothose shown or described. However, the present inventors alsocontemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described areprovided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examplesusing any combination or permutation of those elements shown ordescribed (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to aparticular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect toother examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or describedherein.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patentdocuments, to include one or more than one, independent of any otherinstances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” in thisdocument, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that“A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unlessotherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “inwhich” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms“comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms“including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device,article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements inaddition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemedto fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the followingclaims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merelyas labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements ontheir objects.

Method examples described herein can be machine or computer-implementedat least in part. Some examples can include a computer-readable mediumor machine-readable medium encoded with instructions operable toconfigure an electronic device to perform methods as described in theabove examples. An implementation of such methods can include code, suchas microcode, assembly language code, a higher-level language code, orthe like. Such code can include computer readable instructions forperforming various methods. The code may form portions of computerprogram products. Further, in an example, the code can be tangiblystored on one or more volatile, non-transitory, or non-volatile tangiblecomputer-readable media, such as during execution or at other times.Examples of these tangible computer-readable media can include, but arenot limited to, hard disks, removable magnetic disks, removable opticaldisks (e.g., compact disks and digital video disks), magnetic cassettes,memory cards or sticks, random access memories (RAMs), read onlymemories (ROMs), and the like.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and notrestrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or moreaspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Otherembodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the artupon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to complywith 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain thenature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with theunderstanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scopeor meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description,various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure.This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosedfeature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter maylie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment.Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription as examples or embodiments, with each claim standing on itsown as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that suchembodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations orpermutations. The scope of the invention should be determined withreference to the appended claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. An intermediate media device to deliver videocontent, the intermediate media device comprising: a processor to:modify a request for video content from a mobile device, the request forvideo content dispatched to a content server; forward the modifiedrequest for the video content to the content server; receive the videocontent from the content server; and transfer a portion of the videocontent to the mobile device using a multipath transport protocol,wherein at least one path of the multipath transport protocol is abroadband cellular network path, and at least one other path of themultipath transport protocol is a wireless local area network connectionpath, wherein the broadband cellular network path is enabled during aninitial buffering period of the video content on the mobile device, andwherein the wireless local area network connection path is enabled andthe broadband cellular network path is disabled when playback of thevideo content begins on the mobile device.
 2. The intermediate mediadevice of claim 1, wherein to transfer the portion of the video content,the processor is to maintain a high throughput data connection with themobile device until the portion of the video content is transferred tothe mobile device.
 3. The intermediate media device of claim 2, whereinthe high throughput data connection is maintained in a dedicated channel(DCH) state or is maintained with a throughput greater than a throughputachieved on a forward access channel (FACH) state connection.
 4. Theintermediate media device of claim 1, wherein the processor is tointercept a request for a second portion of the video content from themobile device and transfer the second portion of the video content tothe mobile device using the multipath transport protocol.
 5. Theintermediate media device of claim 1, wherein the content serverincludes a plurality of content servers.
 6. The intermediate mediadevice of claim 1, wherein to transfer the portion of the video contentto the mobile device, the processor is to delay transferring any of theportion of the video content until the portion of the video content isfully received from the content server.
 7. The intermediate media deviceof claim 1, wherein to transfer the portion of the video content to themobile device, the processor is to: receive and store the portion of thevideo content in a buffer; and transfer the portion of the video contentafter the portion of the video content is entirely received and storedin the buffer.
 8. The intermediate media device of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is to intercept all data sent by the mobile device.
 9. Theintermediate media device of claim 1, wherein the at least one otherpath of the multipath transport protocol includes a wireless local areanetwork protocol connection according to an IEEE 802.11 family ofstandards.
 10. The intermediate media device of claim 1, wherein the atleast one path of the multipath transport protocol includes a broadbandcellular network radio access technology (RAT) network connection thatis a cellular standard based network.
 11. The intermediate media deviceof claim 10, wherein the processor is to turn off the RAT networkconnection when the video playback starts on the mobile device.
 12. Anapparatus for delivering video content comprising: means for modifying arequest for video content from a mobile device, the request for videocontent dispatched to a content server; means for forwarding themodified request for the video content to the content server; means forreceiving the video content from the content server; and means fortransferring a portion of the video content to the mobile device using amultipath transport protocol, wherein at least one path of the multipathtransport protocol is a broadband cellular network path, and at leastone other path of the multipath transport protocol is a wireless localarea network connection path, wherein the broadband cellular networkpath is enabled during an initial buffering period of the video contenton the mobile device, and wherein the wireless local area networkconnection path is enabled and the broadband cellular network path isdisabled when playback of the video content begins on the mobile device.13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transferring means includemeans for maintaining a high throughput data connection with the mobiledevice until the portion of the video content is transferred to themobile device.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising meansfor intercepting a request for a second portion of the video contentfrom the mobile device and transferring the second portion of the videocontent to the mobile device using the multipath transport protocol. 15.The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transferring means include meansfor delaying transfer of any of the portion of the video content untilthe portion of the video content is fully received from the contentserver.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one otherpath of the multipath transport protocol includes a wireless local areanetwork protocol connection according to an IEEE 802.11 family ofstandards, and wherein the at least one path of the multipath transportprotocol includes a broadband cellular network radio access technology(RAT) network connection that is a cellular standard based network. 17.A method for using an intermediary device to deliver video contentcomprising: modifying, at a processor of the intermediary device, arequest for video content from a mobile device, the request for videocontent dispatched to a content server; forwarding the modified requestfor the video content to the content server; receiving the video contentfrom the content server; and transferring a portion of the video contentto the mobile device using a multipath transport protocol, wherein atleast one path of the multipath transport protocol is a broadbandcellular network path, and at least one other path of the multipathtransport protocol is a wireless local area network connection path,wherein the broadband cellular network path is enabled during an initialbuffering period of the video content on the mobile device, and whereinthe wireless local area network connection path is enabled and thebroadband cellular network path is disabled when playback of the videocontent begins on the mobile device.
 18. The method of claim 17, whereintransferring includes delaying transfer of any of the portion of thevideo content until the portion of the video content is fully receivedfrom the content server.
 19. At least one non-transitorymachine-readable medium including instructions for using an intermediarydevice to at least deliver video content, which when executed by aprocessor of the intermediate device, cause the processor to: modify arequest for video content from a mobile device, the request for videocontent dispatched to a content server; forward the modified request forthe video content to the content server; receive the video content fromthe content server; and transfer a portion of the video content to themobile device using a multipath transport protocol, wherein at least onepath of the multipath transport protocol is a broadband cellular networkpath, and at least one other path of the multipath transport protocol isa wireless local area network connection path, wherein the broadbandcellular network path is enabled during an initial buffering period ofthe video content on the mobile device, and wherein the wireless localarea network connection path is enabled and the broadband cellularnetwork path is disabled when playback of the video content begins onthe mobile device.
 20. The at least one machine-readable medium of claim19, wherein to transfer the portion of the video content, theinstructions further cause the processor to maintain a high throughputdata connection with the mobile device until the portion of the videocontent is transferred to the mobile device.
 21. The at least onemachine-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the high throughput dataconnection is maintained in a dedicated channel (DCH) state or ismaintained with a throughput greater than a throughput achieved on aforward access channel (FACH) state connection.
 22. The at least onemachine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions furthercause the processor to intercept a request for a second portion of thevideo content from the mobile device and transfer the second portion ofthe video content to the mobile device using the multipath transportprotocol.
 23. The at least one machine-readable medium of claim 19,wherein to transfer the portion of the video content to the mobiledevice, the instructions further cause the processor to delaytransferring any of the portion of the video content until the portionof the video content is fully received from the content server.
 24. Theat least one machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein theinstructions further cause the processor to intercept all data sent bythe mobile device.
 25. The at least one machine-readable medium of claim19, wherein the at least one other path of the multipath transportprotocol includes a wireless local area network protocol connectionaccording to an IEEE 802.11 family of standards and the at least onepath of the multipath transport protocol includes a broadband cellularnetwork radio access technology (RAT) network connection that is acellular standard based network.